Malcesine

Malcesine's most prominent landmark is the Castello Scaligero, which has 13th-century fortifications and an older medieval tower in white natural stone. Like the castle of Sirmione at the southern end of the lake, it is named for the della Scala family of Verona who ruled the region in the 13th and 14th centuries, and has the characteristic swallow-tail Ghibelline merlon crenallations. Remnants of an Etruscan tomb have been found within the castle walls. Most of the structures visible today date to the period of the della Scala.[5] The bell of the castle was cast in 1442 and it is still in service.

In September 1786, Johann Wolfgang Goethe was questioned by the local magistrate on suspicion of being an Austrian spy after drawing sketches of the castle, and recalled the incident in his published travel report Italienische Reise (Italian Journey).[9] During the period of Austrian rule, which ended in 1866 after the Third Italian War of Independence, major renovation work took place inside the castle.[5] The Austrians turned it into a military garrison[4] and the munition store they constructed was later used by the Guardia di Finanza of the Kingdom of Italy as a prison.[10] Since 1902, the castle has been a national monument.[5]

Today, the castle contains a small museum on the natural history of Lake Garda (Museo del Garda) and Monte Baldo (Museo del Baldo). One room in the Austrian powder magazine is dedicated to Goethe and his visit.[11]

Located on the lake shore is the Palazzo dei Capitani. It was constructed by the Scala family between the 13th and 14th centuries on older Roman and Romanesque remains. After being reduced to a simple shell, possibly in an earthquake or by a fire, the building became the property of Francesco Mercanti, from Verona and he passed it on to his heirs. On 18 December 1473, it was sold to Alessandro Miniscalchi. By 1477, the building was already remodelled in the Venetian style. In 1618, Verona purchased the building on the behest of the Republic of Venice for use as the residence of the official called Capitano del Lago. Various further remodelling work followed.[12] The Capitano was the head of the Gardesana dell'Acqua, a regional autonomous territory under Venetian rule.[4]

On 20 March 1854, the comune of Verona effectively ceded the property to the comune of Malcesine and in 1897, Malcesine became the sole owner. It has been a national monument since 1902.[12] Today, it is used for exhibitions and events and also houses the public library.

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  Castello Scaligero, Malcesine.
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  Goethe Memorial, Malcesine.
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  Garden of the Palazzo dei Capitani, Malcesine.
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  Palazzo dei Capitani, Malcesine.

Behind Malcesine rises the 2,218 m (7,277 ft) high Monte Baldo. A two-stage cable car ride—the second leg using one with rotating cabins—takes passengers to 1,750 m (5,741 ft) above sea level.[13] From there the highest point can be accessed by walking a few kilometres to the south along the ridge.

Garda Lake from Baldo Mountain at Comune of Malcesine

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  Cablecar from Malcesine to Monte Baldo. Top Station, ca. 1700m
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  Malcesine harbour.
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  Painting of Malcesine harbour by Gustav Klimt, 1913. Destroyed by fire at Schloss Immendorf, 1945.
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  Malcesine from the south.

Pieve di S. Stefano (or parish church of St. Stephen), first mentioned in the 9th century. Today's baroque church dates to the early 18th century and contains several works of art including the altars of SS. Benigno e Caro (Saints Benigno and Caro, 1769) and of the Beata Vergine delle sette allegrezze (Virgin of the Seven Joys, 1771), as well as a tabernacle and the painting Deposizione attributed to Girolamo dai Libri.[14][15]

Santa Maria di Navene is yet another notable church in the town, dating back to the 17th century).[16]

Whilst Malcesine is not connected to the railway, the town is served by buses.[17] Moreover, there is public transportation by boat, including express hydrofoils, on the lake for passengers as well as a car ferry.[18][19]